Converter



Jan. 5, 1932. M. ALDEN 1,839,634

CONVERTER Filed Jan. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Juan. 5, 193i Hirsi) STATES 'PATENT onirica..

tiraron ALBEN, oFsrii-INGEIELD, MiessAoiiU-sstrils, ,Assienon BY iiiiisivn Assieiv.-

IWENTS, TO RADIO INVENTIONS; lNC., ACORPGBATON .0F NEW YORK o ,coivvnnfrna Appiieatioii ined January as. 192s. (sei-iai Nazca-@85.

My invention relates particularly -to radio receiving apparatus and the main object is to provide a simple form ot device forconversion of radio receivers designed to operate with vacuum tubes Whose cathodes are heated by direct current to a type of receiver eni-` pioying the more modern-vacuum tubes Whose catliodes are operated either directly or indirectly from an alternating current source, 10 Withoutstructural or Wiring changes in the A receiver proper.

Another object is to facilitate insertion of the prongs of the tube into the device.

Another object is to so design the parts 15, that they may be employed invarioiiscombinations for use under diiferent circumstances. z f i' Another object is to provide an adaptor or converter of this character'vvhich'is c0inv pact and yet Will provide a large area 'ofcontact required by' lthe alternatingv current cathode tube and also Will not greatly increase tlie head-room taken by the tubes and,

g other for-m of the invention'provided with'V sockets. l

a6 Another object is to inakeeasy theruseof the vso-calledcentral point connection genVK erally employed With tubes Whose `cathodes are directly heated `by"alternating2 current without disturbing the internal structure or wiring ofthe existing receiver.

An additional object is to vprovide'gin the same device an adjustable means for varying the regeneration in the radio frequency circuits oi' such a receiver When thea-lternating current type of tube is employed. Another object is to provide a device yinto Which an additional resistance may be readily inserted in oneline, Without the use 'ofV three combinations. kIn each case the device.

comprises a. base suitable for insertion in standard vacuum tube sockets.V This'fb-ase carries the standard ContactA-pins or-prongs and is provided internallyfiiith contactsv to be engaged by the prongs orl'pins .of ivhat are commonly termed A'. tubes. .Thedevice also has a top Amember provided with passages for the A. G. tubeprongs. '011e or more off the interior contact members are provided with conducting extensions which eXtendbet-Weentlie intertitting edges ofthe top and ybase and are themselves provided with-suitable means for connection to conductors.'l

. Fig. 1 isa side View of one form of converter embodying my invention and shows means for alternating current lameiit connection, and central point connection to the filament Wiring` of the adapted receiver.

Fig. 1a is a diagram showing one Way in which the device of Figi.A 1 can beV connected in circuit. i

Fig. '2 is a plan view oi? the device of Fig. 1 with condensers and resistors attached.v f

F ig. 3 is a sectional vieiv on the plane' of Fig. 4 is a 'planr view of the base member with itsl vcontacts and projecting conductor terminal for central point connection.

Fig. 5 shows the inside of the top member. -Fig. \6` is a vertical sectional view of anotFig. 6 with some of the contacts removed.

Fig. 8 is a perspectivevievv. of the grid resistor. 'y

Fig. 9 is a perspective vieivV of the parts of the resistor. y j f l F ig.'10 is a perspective view ot'one of the removable contacts having an extension terminal. u

Fig. 11 -is a vertical sectional view of an-` other modification.V Y

4The base 15 is preferably 'formed of insu# lating materialfand Vhas prongs vsuch yas 16 and 1.7 corresponding to the usual prongs ofV va vacuum tube in size and location.

The top member 18 is also preferably formed ot insulatingy material and provided with passages such as 19and'20 corresponding in size and location with the prongs :of an alternating' current tube. These tivomeinbers areV preferably'v provided with "flanges 21 and 22 respectively which overlap eachV other and provide an enclosed chamberor' chambers for the -contact membersn The de-fV vice is adapted to be inserted rinto sockets of-` compact arrangement of the parts ofthel Vthe push-pull type and is also preferably provided with a projecting pin 23 adapted to be kused in a bayonet type socket. The two parts of the body are preferably secured together by a tubular rivet 24.

In the form shown on sheet l the contacts 25 and 26 are provided with spring tips which are inchned so vas to be frictionally andresiliently engaged by tube prongs'inserted rlf'wo other contact members similar to thatv illustrated in Fig. l0 are provided, each of whichhas an inclined spring tip 27, an vinclined spring arm 28, and an extension 29 provided with a binding post or nut 30. This member is held in place between the overlapping flanges of the top and base members of the body. The top is also provided with interior pairs of lugs such as 3l and 32 which serve to laterally position or retain in position the interior spring contacts.

vA central point connecting member' 33 is provided with a T-shaped foot 34 (Fig. 4) the ends of which are electrically connected with the large prongs l. This T-shaped foot is covered with insulatingmaterial 35 sol as to prevent accidental electrical contact between the foot and the immediately adjacent contact members. Y

rThe top member is preferably provided with a groove 36' which provides inner and outer annular shoulders 3T andSS for accurately guidingthe prongsof a tube to be insorted.V This greatly facilitates the insertion ofthe tube in the proper position. This element is Vof considerable importance in modern radio set construction because of thc apparatus which makes it vdiflicult not onlyto lsee where the prong openings'are but even too difficult to lind the openings. The walls ofV thesegrooves are preferably colored according to some prearranged code -for instance-green for a.V five prong tube-orange' fora power tube, and red for other tubes, in fact these rings may be painted with phosphorescent or other luminous paint so asto facilitate finding the entranceto the sockets even in the darli. Y

. F ig. la shows the circuit arrangement forv a converter such as above described being adapted for. centralpoint connection and suitable gridy bias. rEhe resistances 40 and 4l are of equal valuev and of the orderof() ohms. The resistor 42 is Vof. the order of 1000 ohms while the condensers 4 3'and 44l have preferably a value yof as largeor larger than 0.1 Inf.r The 'filament 45' of theftubel to be inserted in thedevic'e of F ig. ll'sh'eet'l,

and having its terminals connected to theV contacts of. extensions 29 and 29. The

prongsl( oft-lie converter are connected asf above described to the T-shaped foot 34 of .the extension 33 to which one end of the resistor 42 is connected. The other end of the resistor 42 is connectedinidWay between the resistors 40 and 4l Whose other terminals are connected to the tube prong contacts 29 and 29,. lThe condensers 43 and 44 are connectedbetween the outer terminals of the resistors 40 and 4l and the common terminal plate of theprong 17.- The resistors 40,V 4l and may be all wound on an insulating segment a-dapted to be supported by the extension conductors 29, 29 and 38. The

condensers 43 and v44. may also be conveniently supported from the said extensions as Ashown inFig2.

aperturev 50. Y Directly below this aperture is the contact 5l which is connected to the pin 52 which normally engages the grid Contact ofl theset socket (not shown). rlhe inner side ofthe spring Contact 53 receives the grid pin ofthe vacuum tube (not shown). rllhe foot of the contact 53 is insulated from the pinn52, bythe insulation 5 5. Between the contacts y5l and 53'may be inserted the resiSQI 54 through the aperture 50.' If the grid resistor 5 4 is not. desired it may be removedyinwhich case the contacts 51 and 53 engage eachother thus directly closing the grid circuit. Connection to the plate of the tube is made by the contact 56 and two spring contacts such as2l are provided for leading the alternating current to the filament.

kThe resistor V54 may be constructed as shown in'Figs. Sand 9. 60 isa piece of in sulating material on which is wound the resistance wire 61 having terminals 62 and 63. On veither sideV of the form 60 is placed an insulating piece 64 and against Vthese pieces are placed the metal parts 65 each having'a single lug 66 on one extremity and a pair of lugs 67 o-n the other extremity.v rThese lugs are bent overasshown in Fig. 8 to hold thie parts together and the lugs 66 engage the b a-re ends 62 and 63 Vof the resistance wire and Contact therewith so that each kmetalplate Aprongs of the converter' haveattached portance when using the present alternatingr current tubes as the cathodes of these tubes equivalent direct current tubes. `A

The inclined spring contacts' .2G-'and 27 are preferably so designed as 'to normally bear on the tapered or inclined part 18 of the draw seveial times theY current employed by top member. 'Silben the tube lprongsua're vin-` serted the tips 26 and 27 bend'oiiti'vardly-so as to atford a maximum perfection of contacti The contacts bend not only at-the tips \,fbut along their Whole lengths. The mid-tap re. sistance might be Wound directly about the side Wall orp the top member.

Certain features of the1 invention a'realso applicable to devices for connecting tive prong tubes into `four contactsoclrets and also for connecting tour prong tubes into tive hole sockets. Y A c a The construction shown in Figs.y 6 and-f7 herein including Vthe tivo vcontact vmembers 51 and 53 which normallyengage one 'another but which are adapted to be separated by the insertion of a device through the slot't), is claimed in my divisional application 499,957, tiled December 4, 1980. i

I claim: f

i. e. connecting device comprising ang'inr sulatii'ig base,y contact prongs projecting from one end of said base, spring contacts mounted Within said base, some of said spring contacts being electrically connected to someofvsaid prongs, a number or conductor terminalsextending Vupwz'trdly fromv said base in the opposite direction rromsaid prongs 'andhaving spring contact portions Withinsaid base; a top member telescopingsaid base and having passages in line With said spring contactmembers and a central Vrivet orsecuring the top member and base together.

2.V A tube connecting device, comprising an insulating baseV and an insulating top, s aid-V members havin g Y interiitting ,'tlanges, proj ectingprongs secured tovsaid base, said. top

having passages Jfor similar p'rongs, `lspring contacts enclosed by nsaid vmembers some orl sai-d contacts being connected to said prongs,

and conductor terminals connected to others ot said contacts and 'extendingoutvvardly between the interiitting ianges of thetop'and base member and provided-tvithf'external cir A I Y vinsulating basehaving'pi'oj'ecting prongs for cuit terminals.

3. fr tube connector comprising an'insu-,

lating base having projecting prongsand V1an insulating top having passages infline with' said prongs, spring coiit`acts"mountedbe# tween said members and connected tof-some' of said prongs and other contacts mounted between said members and having projecting insertos-4 v yconductor terminals laterallyof said base and i 4current modifying means supported by sai-d terminals out-side the base.V

41 An adapter lor'the conversion of a vacuum tube radio receiver from the use of adirect current cathode heating source tothe use oran valternating current cathode heating Y source, said adapt-er having' prongs like and registeringivith those kof av ndirect current tnbeand apertures and contacts registering with` those or an alternating current tube,

means .for isolating the adapter prongs from the iilainent circuit 'of said receiver, means for givin-g electricalfaccess tothe filament for an alternating curr-ent Vcathode heating source,and means for givingvelectrical access to a point corresponding'to the center or emis'si'onof said cathode.

5. A connecting device'L comprisingV an insulating base, contact prongs projecting from one end 'of sai-d base, spring contactsmounted Within said base, some of said spring contacts being electricallyfconnected to some of said prongs, a number of conductor terminals extending from said base in the opposite di` rcc'tion from said A'prongs and having spring contact portions within said basic ,a top mem; ber secured'to ysaid base and havingpa-ssages in line n'ith said spring contact members, and a bayonet lock pin in the side Wall of said body so that said connector 'is adapted for use in'both the shell type and push type of socket'.

6.v A tube connecter comprising an insulat ing'b'ase having passages fortube prongs and having an internal conical Wall intersecting said passages and contact members mounted in said base having spring arms of inverted V-shape, the inner ends of said arms being inclinedv across the inner ends ofsaidpassages and-bearing against said conical Walhsome of said 'Contact members having terminal portions extending outwardly from the edge of sai'dbase for circuit connection. Y 7; A radio set connecter comprising an in-I sulating base having projecting prongs for. insertion intoV the socketV of a'direct current set, contacts mountedvvithin said base, two of-Which are connected to two of said prongs, external terminals extending from an edge or said base land connected to other contacts in said base,"and a third external terminal projecting from an Vedge of said base and connected inside the base to two or the prongs, said base having passages for the insertion of tube pins to said contacts.

8. A 'radio set connecter comprising an or said base andconiiected'to the yotherfcon-Y` tacts saidi'ba'se', and athird .external terminal projecting 'from an 'edgev of 'said baseY itinV iis and connected to two of the prongs, said base having passagesfor the insertion of tube pins to said contacts, and a resistance supported `from some of said terminals and connected between the same. Y l

9. A connecter having an insulating base provided with two large and two small contact prongs, a forked connecter having an up ward and outward extension. terminal attached to said large prongs, two contact members for engaging the prongs of a vacuum tube attached to said two small prongs,-

two contact members` for engaging the prongs of a vacuum tube `having upward and outward extension terminals and means for mounting resistance and capacity units upon said Vextension terminals.

10. A'connecterhaving an insulatingbody, socket engaging prongs on said body, said body having apertures adapted to register with the terminals ot a vacuum tube, contact members attached to some of said prongs in the body and adapted to receive the ter# minals of a vacuum tube, an upwardly extending lead member attached to two others ot said prongs in Athe body, upwardly extending lead membershavingat their' lower ends contacts in said body adapted to receive the terminals of a vacuum tube, and means supported by said lead members for obtain` ing electrical access to the center of the tila'- nient of said vacuum tubel 11. A radio set connecter-V comprising an insulating base having projecting prongs for insertion into the socket of a Vdirectcurrent set, contacts mounted within said base, two oi" which are connected to two of saidprongs, external terminals extending from an edge of said base and connected .to the other Vcontacts in said base, and a third external terminal projecting from an edge otsaid base and connected to two of the. prongs, and .fresistance andV capacity elements supported from said tern'iinalsand connected between the same.

12. A radio set'connecter comprising an insulating base having projecting prongs for insertion into the socket of a direct current set, contacts mounted within said base, two of which are connected to two ot said prongs, external terminals extending from an edge of said base and .connected to other contacts in said base, and a third external terminal proj ecting from an edge ot. said base and connect-` ed to two of the prongs in saidbase, and

means supported by said external terminalsv for adapting thel set to alternatingcurrent cathode heating supply.. y

13. A tube. .connecter comprising an insu.- lating base having passages for tube prongs and having an'internal conical wall inter-` secting said passages and contact members mounted in said base yhavingspring arms of inverted V-shape, the inner ends-ot said arms being inclined'acrossthe inner ends ot said 'extending outside of said base,

passages ,and bearing against said conical wall, some of said contact members being riveted to some of sai'd'prongs said base having a recess vfor the free. action of the outer `parts Aoi the spring arms.

14. A connecter comprising. a base having projecting prongs, a top having passages, a contact connected to at least one prong inside said base and in line with one passage and a conducting strip having an external binding postandk having a portion clamped between the top and base and having an .inverted ll-shaped spring contact portion integrall withthe strip and in line with another passageand means for securing the top and base together.

. 15. A connecter comprising` an insulating base having tour projecting prongs, contacts connected to two otl said prongs, respectively,

a plate connecting the other two prongs, a

conducting strip connected to said plate and two other contacts mounted in the base above but insulated Vtrom said plate and atop member having passages in line with all of said contacts.

V16. A vacuum tube connecter comprising a cup-like basev having Contact prongs projecting from its lower face and having a peripheral Hangs, a Contact secured to the upperend of atleast one of said prongs, a connecting strip connected to at least one other of said prongs and an insulating top member telescopingvwith the flange of said base and having a vpassage for the contact pin ot a tube in line with said contact, said strip e:-;- tending vupwardly between said tiange and the margin of said top member and .having an external means for circuit connection.

v17. An electrical connecter comprising insnlatingibase and top members having overlapping tlanges with Va spacel between the Vflanges, terminal prongs projecting from the of tube prongs to engage said contacts, said top having a` Vpositioning and identifying groove in its outer 'tace intersecting the outer ends of said passages and colored vto indicate t-he type ot tube to be inserted in the device according to a predetermined code 'and means for external Yconnection betweenthe base and top to one ot said contacts,

the base and having four other part having passages in its outer face and having spring contacts sonne of which areconnected to prongs, the line with the spring contacts and a connecting strip clamped between said iianges and having its inner end connected to one of said contacts between said parts and having a circuit terminal on its outer end.

MILTON ALBEN.

one part' having a number of prongs projecting from Y 

